Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-10-25
CATARRH.

TNHE TERM CATARRH is APPLIED TO A
l. peculiar disorder Of the nOstrils and ad-
jacent parts, which prevails to an alarming
extent and is productive OF very serious
consequences.
The most prominent and characteristic
feature is a morbid discharge from the head,
varying in its nature at different times.
In some there is an almost constant flow
of clear, acrid fluid, but oftener an offensive,
purulent or muco-purulent, greenish-yellcw
matter is secreted, which accumulates i'll
the nostrils or drops into the throat, neces-
stating Its frequenteemoval by blowing the
nose or expectorati6n, aud often by both
processes. Sometimes patients feel as
though their head was in a state of rotten
ness, so great is the amount of matter dis
charged and so fetid is its odor. The pa
dropping into the throat of the morbid
matter from the head, and as a recunbent
position naturally favOrs the flow downward
his rest is frequently disturbed from this
cause. Many sufferers are obliged to lie it'll
| the head very much elevated i'll order to
sleep with some degree ot comfort.
IN others tough, riscid and offensive
phlegm collects behind and above the soft
palate, i'll the passage between the throat and
head, adheriug to the parts with glush tenac-
ity. Its lodgment embarrasses respiration
ana creates q sensation OF irritation and un-
easness in the affected locality, which gives
rise to a constant and almost Irresistible de-
sire to relieve that discomfort by drawing
the mucus into the throat 30 as to eject it by
| the mouth. This practice, popularly known
as hawking" is characteristic of eatarrh
and proves as embarrassing 10 the one af.
fected as it is disagreeable to those around
him.
Again, the offensive matter hardens and
deposits ltself on the membrane in the shape
of dry. hard concretions. which are dis
charged by way of the nostrils or throat in
Jumps or fragments of a deep green tint. In
some cases these incrustatiOns accumulate
| to such an extent as to form regular plug
i'll the nose, which obstructs breathing and
| produce serious discomfort. SO firmly do
these incrustations adhere TO the point of
| attachment that their removal usually re-
quires the most violent efforts; not unfre-
quently they have TO be torn from the men,
brane. Occasionally u solid east of notable
size Is expelled, on which there are generally
lIacrs OF blo4a, but in some cases the cast
present.. It tubular appearance, being of exact
shape OF the nasal cavity. This condition is
| indicative of liberation, which, in time,
| may destroy the bony structure of the nose
and produce subsequent fattening of that
organ.
Cases are occasionally met with in which
| Il thick, visCid, Shiny secretion coats the
membrane OF the nasal cavities and then
putrefies, giving rise to a stencil which is
| really overpowering, and sufficiently fetid
| to poison the atmosphere of u whole room;
| aud there are Others in which all the secre-
| tons of the membrane are suspended, caus-
ing an unpleasant feeling of dryness, heat
and feverishness in the head and nose--a
Catarrh."
The disease speedily extends TO the air
cavities of the bones of the forehead and
| face, giving rise to dist cssing sensation of
heavy weight or compression over the fore
head, especially in the region above and be-
| tween the eyes. and to a feeling OF fulness
heat, irritation, sort ness or pai in the nos
trils near the root of the nose, as well as in
the upper part of the throat, above. and be.
hind the soft palate. Sometimes there is
pain obstinately fixed in some particular
part, as in the temple, on the top of the
head, at the back of The neck or behind the
orbits: and, occasionally, pain manifests
itself IN the face of so severe character
that it Is frequently mistaken for neuralgia
The breath is always tainted, and at times
assumes an exceeding fetid and sickening
odor. In some cases it becomes SO revolt
inGly offensive as to render the sufferer an
object of disgust to himself as well as to
others. II
The nasal membrane is thickened and
contested, causing the nose to be stopped up,
sometimes on one side, sometimes. on the
other, and often on both, giving rise 10 a
disagreeable, stuffy sensation in the head,
and occasioning violent and prolonged
paroxysms of sneezing.
the voice is weak, lndistinct and husky,
or Of nasal character, displaying a sort of
snithng quality. Oftentimes there is con-
tinuous hoarseness and discordance There
is also sense of irritation in the part,
and frequent attempts to clear the throat of
phlegm, producing the sound "hem," more
or less forcibly. In some cases patients
| complain of an uncomfortable feeling of
fuliness, or choky sensation in the throat
and in others of a distressing and almost
constant dryness, for the temporary relief OF
which they have to swallow frequently.
Others; again, speak of a constant bad or
| nauseous taste in the mouth OF throat.
The stomach generally suffers more or less
and becomes weak and irritable; the appe-
tite is caprieious and nearly always bad in
the morning. The patient is languid unable
to perform mental or physical labor with
0pnrgggpQ n
spirits, at times fearful, timid, agitated and
inclined to drowsiness and sleep, the mem
DRY. weakened and permanent impairment
seriously Threatened.
The mucous membrane soon becomes
morbidly sensitive to unfayorable infiu-
ences, and in spite of the utmost care be-
comes affected from the slightest causes SO
that at last breath of wind upon the lining
of the nose or throat becomes productive OF
cold and gives rise to serious disturbances
OF the respiratory organs. Thus the patient
is subject to frequent and repeated colds,
each attack aggravating the disease by Civ
ing ii a new impulse and involving a larger
extent of surface than its predecessor. In
this manner the difficulty spreads from or
trachea and bronchial tubes, until, en-
croaching further and further. it reaches
the finer ramifications OF the bronchi, when
but slight impulse is required to send 1t to
the lungs. Catarrh may, and often does.
affect other organs in the body, especially
those contain ng a mucous membrane, such
as the stomach, bowels, kidneys, etc.
By the employment OF proper inhalatIons
in the form of medicated vapor mot steam
or spray we are able to produce Immediate
and direct action upon the diseased surface
in the pharynx and nasal passages for air
intricate cavities, where it is utterly impos.
sible to make fluid applications. BY these
means every case can be cured.
Persons desiring treatment by this system
Of practice can use the remedy at home nc
well as ut our office, and which will cause
no Inconvenience or hindrance to business
whatever. BUSINESS
a. l nave seen SO many of these cases cured
that do not consider any case homeless nm.
less the disease has advanced to The chest
ana that both lungs are seriously involved.
Even then the inhalations aid us in dis.
sowing the mucus and in contracting ana
healing the cavities, which nothing else can
uo WIN the same success. The very best
references from those already cured.